Insulation testing device



w. D. BoYNToN Er AL. 2,488,578

Nov. 22, 1949 INsuLATIoN TESTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Flled March 18, 1944 FIG. 4

FIG.5

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/NvENroRs W. D. BO YN TON C. E LE WIS G. GE

ATT RNEY Patented NOV/ 22 1.9.49

INSULATION TESTING DEVICE Wentworth D. Boynton, Clay E. Lewis, tand George R. Page, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Western ElectricCompany, Incorporated, New

York, N. Y., a corporationof New York Application March 18, 1944, Serial No. 527,134

claims. (ci. iis-iss) This invention relates to insulation testing devices and more particularly to electrodes for continuously testing the insulation of moving insulated conductors.

of cotter pins I9-I9 extend. A cable I8 leading from the test set I3 is connected to one of the bolts II-III and serves to maintain the contactor I6, the bracket I5, and the cotter pins I9I9 at In certain testing operations, an article being 5 a high potential when the test set I3 is in opera.'-` tested must be contacted at substantially every tion. point around its periphery by an electrode forming A plurality of substantially parallel series of part of the apparatus designed to perform the short-linked, very flexible chains 20-20 (Figs. 3 testing operation. This is especially true when and 4) are suspended from the cotter pins I9-I9. testing insulating jackets made of rubber or rub- The chains 20-20 are made of brass or other ber-like compositions, such as are employed in conductive material, and are of a double-jack the manufacture of wires and cables. type. Such chains are very exible and do not An object of the invention is to provide new kink readily. The construction of this type of and improved insulation testing devices. chain is shown in Fig. 6. Asis illustrated in Fig.

One insulation testing device embodying the l5 3, the innermost series of the chains 20-20 are invention comprises a composite electrode made relatively short, and the outer series of chains are up of a trough-shaped contactor over which an progressively longer. The ends of the outermost vinsulated wire is advanced and a plurality of very ones of the chains -29 rest upon and are deexible chains of unequal lengthsuspended from ilected inwardly by the trough-shaped contactor one of their ends so as to permit the lower ends 20 I6. Thus, the ends of the plurality of series of of the chains to rest upon and around the inthe chains 20-20 together with the contactor I6 sulated conductor. An elongated guard surrounds form an elongated, substantially cylindrical pasthe composite electrode and is provided with a sage therebetween. tortuous passage through which a Wire may be An insulated conductor (Fig. 3) comprising threaded to place it into engagement with the 25 a central conductor'26 and an insulating jacket electrode but which prevents contact of an oper- 21, may be advanced through the cylindrical pasators hand with the electrode. sage formed-by the chains 20--20 and the con- A complete understanding of the invention may tactor I6 by a take-up reel 28 (Fig. 1) driven by be obtained from the following detailed descripany suitable source of power (not shown). The tion of a specific embodiment thereof, when read above mentioned passage is slightly smaller in in conjunction with the appended drawings, in diameter than is the conductor 25 so that as the which conductor is advanced between the chains 20-20 Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a device embodying and the contactor I6, the ends of the chains and the invention; the contactor engage the outer periphery of the Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device; 35 insulating jacket 21. The ends of the chains Fig. 3 is an enlarged, vertical section taken 2.0-20 engage the jacket 21 at those points about along line 3-3 of Fig. 1; the periphery thereof not engaged by the con- Fig. 4isasection taken along line 4--4 of Fig. 3; tactor I6. Thus, the chains and the contactor Fig. 5 is a section taken along line 5 5 of come into contact with the jacket 21 substantially Fig. 3; 40 entirely around the periphery thereof. f l

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a fragment of va An elongated grounded guard 29 (Fig. 3) secontacting element forming a part of the device, cured to the housing I0 by brackets 30-30 ysurvand rounds the trough-shaped contactor I6 andthe Fig. 7 is avertical section of an alternative form bracket I5 and extends a substantial distance of the device. 4 45 beyond the ends thereof. The guard 29 is open Referring more specifically to the drawings, a at both ends to permitthe insulated conductor housing I0 (Fig. 3) forming a part of a test set 25 to be advanced therethrough and is provided I3 of a conventional type, serves to support an with a small L-shaped passage 3l at the right arm II of suitable electrical insulating material, hand side thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. The paswhich is secured thereto by bolts I2-I2 (Fig. 5). 50 sage 3| permits the conductor 25 to be inserted A horizontal bracket I5 and a horizontal, curved between the chains 2-2il and the contactor I6 trough-shaped contactor I6 (Fig. 3) are secured when the conductor is grasped at points beyond to the arm II by bolts I4I4. The bracket I5 the ends of the guard, but prevents an operator has a plurality of aligned holes I1-I1 (Figs. 3 from contacting the contactor I6, the chains and 4) formed therein, through which a plurality 66 20-20 or any other charged portion of the device 3 at any time. The guard 29 is grounded and thereby prevents any accidents.

Two rollers 32-32 are mounted upon a pair oi brackets 33--33 secured to the guard 29 at each end thereof. The upper portions of the rollers 32-32 are aligned with the lowermast part of the curved upper surface of the contacter I6, as shown in Fig. 3, and the conductor 25 rests thereon as it is advanced by the take-up reel 28. If the insulating jacket 21 has any moisture on the surface thereof, any current supplied to the jacket 21 by the contacter I6 and the chains 20-20 will be grounded. Consequently, an operator may safely handle the conductor 25' at either end of the guard 29, even thoughthe contacter I6 and the chains 2li-20 are at a high potential.

In tne operation of the device, the conductor 25 is placed between the chains -20 and the contaeter I6 in the manner described hereinabove. The central conductor 26 (Fig. 3) of the insulated conductor 2b' is connected to` the take-up reel 28, which is grounded. The test set i3 then is turned on, whereby ahigh potential is impressed upon the chains 20-20 and the contactor I8. The take-up reel 28 is rotated to draw the conductor 2a over the rollers .12--32 and between the chains '2u-2u and the contacter I6, which contact substantiaily the entire periphery of the jacket 21 and subject each increment of the surface of the jacket to a high potential. If there is a defect in the jacliet, the high potential of one of the chains '2u-zu oiof the contacter I8 will be transmitted through the delect to the grounded conductor 26. Sacri an occurrence will be indicated by the test set is to which the cable I8 is connected.

Since the chains 20-20 and the contacter I6 form tneiebetween an elongated, substantially cylindrical passage somewhat smaller in diameter tiian the diameter of the insulated conductor 25, tne jacket 21 is engaged by the lower ends of the cli-ams .iu-0 and the contactor I6 and the chains are dragged along the path of the conductor to tiie extent permitted by the lengths of the chains. Thus, the ends of the chains sweep over the outer surface of the jacket 21 and tend to subject all parts of the jacket within their reach to the high potential impressed on the chains. As will be evident from Fig. 3 of the drawings, the free ends of the long outer chains tend to slide down thev sides of the trough-shaped contacter I6 toward the center of the contacter and thus the ends of these chains are caused to extend partly under the insulated conductor into engagement with portions of the insulating jacket 21 that are not engaged by the contacter or by the ends of the other chains. The chains 20-20 are extremely flexible and the free ends thereof remain in contact with the jacket 21 even if the contour of the various parts of the jacket should vary. Consequently, any defect in the jacket 21 will be adja- 00 cent to the trough-shaped contacter or the free end of at least one of the chains 20-'-20 at some time during its passage through the composite electrode.

The short-linked, double-jack chains 2li- 20 are very exible and are almost impossible to kink in the ordinary use thereof. Thus, the lower ends of the chains adapted themselves readily to the changing contour of the periphery of the insulated conductor 25. Since the contactor I5 presses against the lower ends et the longer chains, it maintains them in contact with the conductor 25. Also, the shape of the contactar I6 prevents the chains 20-20 from catching thereon.

device.

.An alternative form of guard, which is shown in Fig. 7, may be substituted for, the guard 28. if it is so desired. This guard, which is designated generally by the numeral |28, comprises a grounded sheet-metal housing |30 bolted to the housing Il of the test set le. An L-shaped sheetmetal door |3| hinged to the housing |30 has an arm |33 secured thereto which is designed to engage a spring pressed plunger |34 on amicroswitch |35 to close the microswitch when the door |3| is closed. An opening |36 in the door |3| permits the contactor I6 and the chains 2||20 to be observed, whiie a screen |31 secured thereover prevents contact with normally charged elements of the device when the door |3| is closed.

Openings, such as an opemng |39, are formed in the sides of the door I'al and the housing |33 to permit a conductor similar to the conductor 25 to be drawn through the guard |29. Metal rollers. illustrated by a roller |32, are mounted on metal brackets, illustrated by the bracket |33, in a manner similar to that in which the rollers s2-32 are mounted.

The contacts (not shown) of the microswitch are in series with the power supply which energizes the test set I3. When the door |3| is closed.

the arm |38 engages the piunger |34 to close the contacts of the microswitch, thereby permitting the composite electrode to be energized. When the door |3| is opened, the arm |3|| is moved out of engagement with the plunger |34 and the microswitch is opened to cut ori the power from the test set. Consequently, as long as the door |3| is open it is impossible for an operator to be injured by contact with any portion of the device which is charged during the normal operation of the device.

The passage formed between the chains 2li-2i and the contacter I6 may be varied in size easily to adapt the device to test insulated conductors having different diameters from that of the insulated conductor 25. This may be done merely by substituting chains of different lengths for the chains 2li-20.

It is sometimes desirable to test insulated conductors of oval, triangular or other non-circular cross sections and apparatus embodying this invention may be adapted readily for this purpose. For testing insulated conductors whose cross sections are not circular, a contacter similar to the contacter I6 but of a shape suitable to contact the lower periphery of the conductor of the particular type being tested, may be employed. Chains of suitable lengths may be substituted for the chains 20--20 to form with the above mentioned substituted contacter a passage for the conductors of other than circular cross sections so that the ends of the chains contact such a conm ductor about its entire periphery as it is advanced through the passage.

While the apparatus described hereinabove has been illustrated as employed in testing the insulating jacket on a single conductor wire, it is 15 obvious that apparatus embodying the invention maybe used with 'substantially equal ease to test the insulation on multi-conductor wires or cables.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for testing insulated conductors, means for supporting an insulated conductor, a plurality of flexible, electroconductive chains of different lengths, and means forsupporting each of the chains from only one of the ends thereof and over the supporting means with the longer chains at the sides of the axis of an insulated conductor positioned on the conductor supporting means and the shorter chains approximately over that axis.

'2. In an apparatus for testing continuous lengths of insulated conductors, a horizontally disposed, solid contactor having a concave upper surface along which an insulated conductor to be tested may be advanced,a plurality of flexible chains of different lengths, and means for supporting each of the chains from only one of the ends thereof over the concave surface whereby the free ends of the chains and the concave surface on the contactor form a passage of substan` tiallythe same shape as that of a conductor advanced between the contactor and the chains.

3. In an apparatus for testing the insulation on continuous lengths of insulated conductors including means for advancing such a conductor along a predetermined path, an electrode comprising a support positioned above the path of the conductor, and a plurality of series of very iiexible chains, each of the chains being suspended from the support at only one of its ends with its opposite end depending freely in the path of the conductor, each of the series of chains being substantially parallel to the path of the conductor and extending along the support and the chains of the several series being of unequal lengths and so positioned that the free ends thereof form an elongated passage of substantially semicircular cross section, whereby the free ends of the chains engage and sweep over a substantial portion of the outer surface of the insulation on the insulated conductor as the conductor is advanced therepast.

4. In an apparatus for testing insulated conductors, a concave contactor for supporting an insulated conductor, a plurality of series of iiexi' ble, short-linked chains of diiferent lengths, and means for suspending each of the chains from only the upper end thereof with the upper ends of the chains forming a horizontal plane, the

longer chains being suspended in series of rows extending along the contactor at the outside of .the shorter chains and the free ends of the longer -means positioned over the contactor for supporting each of the chains from one end thereof with the other end thereof hanging free of the supporting means, the shorter chains being suspended in series of rows extending along and positioned over the central portion of an insulated conductor supported by the contactor and contacting the upper portion of the periphery of the conductor with the free ends thereof and the longer chains being suspended in series of rows extending along and positioned over the outer portions of the conductor with the free ends thereof resting upon the concave contactor,

whereby the concave contactor tucks the free ends of the longer chains under the insulated con ductor thereby increasing the area of the int sulation on the conductor engaged by the chains.

WENTWORTH D. BOYNTON. CLAY E. LEWIS.

GEORGE R. PAGE.

asV

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA'I'ENTS 

